Replace or Renew a Green Card

After you receive your green card, which is proof of your ability to live and work in the United States, you must carry it with you at all times and you must be sure to renew it before it expires.

Conditional green cards are valid for 2 years and are usually issued to residents who applied for a green card based on marriage to a U.S. Citizen and had been married for less than 2 years. Prior to the card’s expiration an application must be submitted to renew the card and remove the conditions.

If you have a 10-year green card and did not apply for naturalization, you must renew your green card prior to its expiration. Many people wrongly assume that after a certain number of years they automatically become citizens, and this false assumption can cause them great trouble if they fail to renew their permanent resident cards.

A lost green card can also prove to be problematic, because without it, one cannot prove legal residency and/or employment eligibility. If you lost your green card, you need to apply for a replacement card immediately.

At Cohen & Forman we can help you with removal of conditions, renewal and replacement of green cards as well as with reentry permits if you travel outside of the country for more than 1 year. It is just as important to maintain your permanent residency, as it is to establish it, and at Cohen & Forman we make sure our clients are always informed of both their responsibilities and rights as green card holders.